What We Do

The Library Foundation was founded over a decade ago to create the margin of excellence for our library—building private support, enhancing visibility for our library's impact, and strengthening the public's commitment to a great library. The foundation and the library work together, in strong partnership, to determine where private funds can be leveraged to have the greatest impact and at the same time, not supplant the public's responsibility for funding a strong library system.

Last year, with foundation support, the library reached more than 165,000 people. Of these, 151,000 children and adults were reached with proven literacy programs and services for those impacted by the economic crisis. An additional 14,000 people were reached through cultural and literary programs. Foundation support expanded the library’s work with the hardest-to-reach and most-at-risk young people, taking books and effective programs directly into the lives of children, parents, grandparents, childcare providers and educators. The Library Foundation also supported the library's leadership in helping thousands who are struggling because of the economy.